A quick trip to Bandar Ikan Patin - Part 3

D. Gunung Senyum and Gua Terang Bulan

The story goes (taken from the plaque describing the place):
According to history, Gunung Senyum derived its name from an incident where Sultan Ahmad, the ruler of Pahang from 1863 to 1892 was on his way to Kuala Krau, Temerloh. Before reaching Kuala Krau, he saw a mountain on the right side of the river and asked his aides the name of the mountain. The aides smiled because no one knew the name of the mountain. To avoid embarrassment to the aides, the sultan declared the name of the mountain as Gunung Senyum or Smiling Mountain.

And to get a bit of the description out of the way (also taken from the same plaque):
Gunung Senyum is an archeological site located about 68 kilometres from the town of Temerloh and about 1,549 metres above sea level. This mountain is situated in the Jengka Forest Reserve covering an area of 794 hectares. The mountain is mainly of limestone estimated to be around 3,000 years old whilst the lowland in the east are made up of mudstone and shale estimated to be 2,100 years old. There are 19 caves with different unique characteristics. Among the notable caves are Kolam Tujuh Cave, Terang Bulan Cave, Gelap Cave, Taman Satu Cave, Taman Dua Cave, Angin Cave, Merlap Cave and Elephant Cave.

This is a pic of inside and outside the cave, as well as a few of the "younger" colleagues doing a Japanese like action sequence thingy.

There was no hiking involved, luckily, but a short walk to the entrance of Gua Terang Bulan (Bright Moon Cave). The cave is immensed, and purportedly the largest in the area. Quite dark inside, and advisable to bring torchlights. Certain angle of the cave face, makes it look like a skull face. Eerie that. I don't think anyone would want to be alone here at night!

It got its name from a certain hole inside the cave, and as you look up, it looks like a bright moon. There were also sounds of water dripping (limestone muh), and nature was abundant inside. We saw mini black crabs (but it moved too fast for me to take a picture of it), and almost got to see the white crabs but the guide didn't want to disturb the white crabs in the mini pool above ground. We were told that we were lucky enough to see the crabs, as sometimes they couldn't be spotted no matter how you look. Respecting nature, the guide put the crabs back where he found them. A few of us wanted to climb the slippery area to see the crabs in the natural habitat but decided otherwise due to the dangers involved.

Walking to the cave entrance allowed us to cross a bridge with a sign that says "Jambatan Rosak" or "Bridge Spoilt" if translated literally. Still, we crossed it safely, with the bridge looking sturdy enough. Some crossed the bridge with great aplomb, others with varied looks of apprehension fearing for balance, and some literally just strolled across taking time for a picture or two!

There was an erected tower for Flying Fox (zip wire) activities. With the line ending into the murky water. Can't imagine people doing it, and roughing it into the algae infested and god knows other what not infested water. But still, you never know, some like a challenge indeed.

Along the way to the entrance of the cave, there were flowers and plants aplenty, even bamboo trees, and other trees which I don't even begin to know the names. Even saw a Tongkat Ali tree. Flora and fauna in abundance indeed. Was also told there was also a house built nearby all natural, with not a single nail used. Didn't get to see it though.

Had expected to see more creepy crawlies, but perhaps I didn't look hard enough. Probably all there hiding, and peering from beneath whichever leaf or branches, eyeing us intruders ever suspiciously.

And how can a forest be a forest without greens? Some leaves were extremely huge! Had one or two shots with a person standing beneath the leaf, and the leaf could cover the entire person, height and width and more to spare!

Can you spot the red dragonfly? I almost missed it, until someone pointed it out to me. I was already the last one in line, so had to take a quick shot and hurry to catch up with the rest.

And inside the cave? We saw some casulties. There were bats flying high above us in the upper sections of the cave, but one baby bat was seen on the ground. Injured and scared with the guide subsequently putting the little bat in between the leaves and branches in the hope it does not become fodder for other bigger predators.

Alas, also saw the remains of another baby bat which was unfortunate to fall from the sky and couldn't make it back to safety. Almost like charred remains from being exposed to the sun. Vampire bats? JENG JENG JENG!!!

Incidentally, don't touch the bats, apparently they bite. I wonder if West Malaysians go bat hunting. I remember going hunting last time for fruit bats when I was a kid in East Malaysia, and once the bat was shot down from the sky, if still conscious, we would pick it up from its wingtip and slam it against the ground (not grass) to knock them out and put them in a box for cooking later. I did my fair share, but come to think of it now, kind of err...cruel. I think I was put off bats completely when I saw someone skinning the bats before putting it in a pot to cook! I never took a bite, ever!

And after all that, amongst the backdrop of the public loo, two beautiful butterflies in midair, dancing the dance of love. Ah, what a sight to behold.